Search

Deuterated organic compounds become increasingly important in many areas; however, it remains challenging to install deuterium site-selectively to unactivated aliphatic positions with control of degree of deuteration. Here we report a Cu-catalyzed degree-controlled deacylative deuteration of diverse alkyl groups with methylketone (acetyl) moiety as a traceless activating group. The use of N-methylpicolino-hydrazonamide (MPHA) promotes efficient aromatization-driven C–C cleavage. Mono-, di- and tri-deuteration at specific sites can be selectively achieved. The reaction is redox neutral with broad functional group tolerance. The utility of this method has been demonstrated in forming a complete set of deuterated ethyl groups, merging with the Diels–Alder reaction, a net devinylative deuteration, and the synthesis of the d(2)-analogue of Austedo.

The dehydroacylation of ketones to olefins is realized under mild conditions, which exhibits a unique reaction pathway involving aromatization-driven C–C cleavage to remove the acyl moiety, followed by Cu-mediated oxidative elimination to form an alkene between the α and β carbons. The newly-adopted N’-methylpicolinohydrazonamide (MPHA) reagent is key to enable efficient cleavage of ketone C–C bonds at room temperature. Diverse alkyl- and aryl-substituted olefins, dienes, and special alkenes are generated with broad functional group tolerance. Strategic applications of this method are also demonstrated.

Arene- and heteroarene-fused rings are pervasive in biologically active molecules. Direct annulation between a C–H bond on the aromatic core and a tethered alkyl moiety provides a straightforward approach to access these scaffolds; however, such a strategy is often hampered by the need of special reactive groups and/or less compatible cyclization conditions. It would be synthetically appealing if a common native functional group can be used as a handle to enable a general C–H annulation with diverse aromatic rings. Here, we show a deacylative annulation strategy for preparing a large variety of aromatic-fused rings from linear simple ketone precursors. The reaction starts with homolytic cleavage of the ketone α C–C bond via a pre-aromatic intermediate, followed by a radical-mediated dehydrogenative cyclization. Using widely available ketones as the robust radical precursors, this deconstructive approach allows streamlined assembly of complex polycyclic structures with broad functional group tolerance. Common native functional groups would be appealing as handles to enable C–H annulation with diverse aromatic rings. Now, this is achieved using ketones as unconventional alkyl radical precursors providing a practical method to synthesize biologically important fused-ring systems.

In contrast to the plethora of large-bite-angle bisphosphine ligands available to transition-metal catalysis, the development of small-bite-angle bisphosphine ligands has suffered from the limited ...

Rh(III)-catalyzed, chelation-assisted oxidative C−H imidation of arenes with N−H imide have been realized using PhI(OAc)2 as an oxidant. This transformation exhibits a broad substrate scope and tolerates various functional groups. The reaction proceeded via in situ generation of an iodine(III) imido. DFT calculations suggest that this oxidative imidaton system proceeds via a Rh(III)-Rh(V)-Rh(III) pathway.

Axially chiral open-chain olefins represent an underexplored class of chiral platform. In this report, two classes of tetrasubstituted axially chiral acyclic olefins have been accessed in excellent enantioselectivity and regioselectivity via C-H activation of (hetero)arenes assisted by a migratable directing group en route to coupling with sterically hindered alkynes. The coupling of indoles bearing an N-aminocarbonyl directing group afforded C-N axially chiral acrylamides with assistance of a racemic zinc carboxylate additive. DFT studies suggest a β-nitrogen elimination-reinsertion pathway for the directing group migration. Meanwhile, the employment of N-phenoxycarboxamide delivered C-C axially chiral enamides via migration of the oxidizing directing group. Experimental studies suggest that in both cases the (hetero)arene substrate adopts a well-defined orientation during the C-H activation, which in turn determines the disposition of alkyne in migratory insertion. Synthetic applications of representative chiral olefins have been demonstrated.

Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of N-protected anilines and chemo-divergent couplings with acroleins/enones have been realized for synthesis of three classes of heterocycles. The oxidative coupling of N-pyridylaniline afforded dihydroquinolones with the acrolein being a major hydrogen acceptor. When the directing group was replaced by pyrimidyl in the same system, redox-neutral coupling occurred to afford hemiaminal ethers. Oxidative annulation of N-pyridylanilines with enones using AgBF4 oxidant afforded atropisomeric quinolinium salts.

Manganese(I)-catalyzed C–H activation of indoles and divergent annulative coupling with alkyne-tethered cyclohexadienones has been realized under operationally simple conditions. These annulation systems are under condition control. The coupling in the presence of BPh3 additive followed a C–H activation-alkyne insertion-Michael addition pathway, affording an exocyclic olefin attached to a tetrahydrofuran ring. In contrast, when Zn(OAc)2/PivOH additives were introduced, initial olefination en route to intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction and subsequent elimination of an alcohol was followed to deliver a fused six-membered ring. The selectivity stands in contrast to those reported using rhodium(III) and cobalt(III) catalysts, highlighting the unique reactivity and selectivity of manganese catalysts.

Cp*RhIII /IrIII complexes are known to play important roles in both C-H activation and transfer hydrogenation (TH). However, these two areas evolved separately. They have been integrated in redox- and chemodivergent coupling reactions of N-pyridylanilines with enones. The iridium-catalyzed coupling with enones leads to the efficient synthesis of tetrahydroquinolines through TH from i PrOH. Counterintuitively, i PrOH does not serve as the sole hydride source, and the major reaction pathway involves disproportionation of a dihydroquinoline intermediate, followed by the convergent and iterative reduction of quinolinium species.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of (hetero)arenes and redox-neutral coupling with 2-carboxyl allylic alcohols has been realized for the construction of β-aryl ketones. This reaction occurred efficiently at a relatively low catalyst loading via initial dehydrogenative alkylation to give a β-keto carboxylic acid, followed by decarboxylation.

An efficient, atom-economical, and regioselective insertion of indoles into terminal alkynes has been realized via cobalt(III)-catalyzed C–H activation under mild conditions, leading to efficient synthesis of α-gem-vinylindoles. The insertion of the alkynes follows a rare 1,2-selectivity, and silyl alkynes, alkyl alkynes, propargyl alcohols, and protected propargyl amines are all applicable. The mechanism of this hydroarylation system has been studied in detail by a combination of experimental and computational approaches. In the reaction of silyl terminal alkynes, the regioselectivity is dictated by the steric effects of the alkyne substituent, especially in the protonolysis stage. However, for protected propargyl amines, the selectivity results from electronic effects during the insertion step, with protonolysis being insignificant in the determination of selectivity. An internal alkyne also coupled in high efficiency but with low regioselectivity. Comparisons of cobalt, rhodium, and iridium catalysts h...

Sulfoxonium ylides act as an efficient carbene precursor in rhodium(III)-catalyzed C-H acylmethlyation of a variety of arenes assisted by different chelating groups, and both aryl- and alkyl-substituted β-carbonyl sulfoxonium ylides are applicable. The system proceeded under redox-neutral conditions with a broad scope, high efficiency, and functional group tolerance.

Rh(III)-catalyzed activation and acylation of sp3 C–H bonds has been realized with diarylcyclopropenone as an acylating reagent. Both benzylic C–H in 8-methylquinolines and unactivated C–H in 2-alkylpyridines are applicable in this C–H acylation reaction, providing enones in good yields under redox-neutral conditions.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed addition of benzylic C(sp3)–H bond to α,β-unsaturated ketones/aldehydes has been realized, leading to efficient synthesis of γ-aryl ketones/aldehydes. This atom-economic reaction proceeded under mild and redox-neutral conditions with a broad substrate scope. Besides benzylic C–H, allylic C–H bonds are also applicable when assisted by O-methyl ketoxime directing groups.

An efficient synthesis of 2-substituted quinolines from readily available cyclopropanols and imidamides has been developed, where the cyclopropanol acts as a C3 synthon. With the assistance of a bifunctional imidamide directing group, the reaction occurred via sequential C–H/C–C cleavage and C–C/C–N bond formation.

Carbonyl groups are ubiquitous in functional molecules. Although C–H bond acylation has been well-studied via different mechanisms, transition-metal-catalyzed redox-neutral C(sp3)–H acylation under mild conditions is unprecedented. In this work, ketene is designed as a acylating reagent for both C(sp3)–H and C(sp2)–H bonds under Rh(III) catalysis, affording a diverse array of carbonyl compounds in high yields and high atom economy under mild conditions.

Co(III)-catalyzed mild C-C couplings of arenes with strained rings such as 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes and 2-vinyloxirane have been realized. The transformation is proposed to undergo ortho C-H activation, olefin insertion, and subsequent β-oxygen elimination. A broad range of synthetically useful functional groups are compatible, thus providing a new entry to access diversely 2-functionalized indoles.

Previous direct C-H nitrogenation suffered from simple amidation/amination with limited atom-economy and is mostly limited to C(sp(2) )-H substrates. In this work, anthranil was designed as a novel bifunctional aminating reagent for both C(sp(2) )-H and C(sp(3) )-H bonds under rhodium(III) catalysis, thus affording a nucleophilic aniline tethered to an electrophilic carbonyl. A tridendate rhodium(III) complex has been isolated as the resting state of the catalyst, and DFT studies established the intermediacy of a nitrene species.

C-H activation assisted by a bifunctional directing group has allowed the construction of heterocycles. This is ideally catalyzed by earth-abundant and eco-friendly transition metals. We report Co(III)-catalyzed redox-neutral coupling between arenes and alkynes using an NH amide as an electrophilic directing group. The redox-neutral C-H activation/coupling afforded quinolines with water as the sole byproduct.

Cobalt(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of simple benzoate esters has been achieved, and redox-neutral annulative coupling with internal alkynes allowed efficient synthesis of indenones. The employment of the weak and simple ester directing group makes it an attractive protocol in carbocycle synthesis.

Rhodium-catalyzed C–H activation of arenes has been established as an important strategy for the rapid construction of new bonds. On the other hand, ring-opening of readily available cyclopropanols has served as a driving force for the coupling with various nucleophiles and electrophiles. Nevertheless, these two important areas evolved separately, and coupling of arenes with cyclopropanols via C–H activation has been rarely explored. In this work, the oxidative coupling between arenes and cyclopropanols has been realized with high efficiency and selectivity under Rh(III)-catalysis, providing an efficient route to access β-aryl ketones. Moreover, the C–H bond has been extended to benzylic C–H bonds.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed coupling between ketoximes and alkynes via C-H activation and annulation typically followed the [4+2] selectivity to afford isoquinolines. By designing alkynes bearing a highly electron-withdrawing group and under substrate control, we have successfully switched the selectivity of the coupling between oximes and alkynes to the alternative [3+2] annulation, leading to the efficient synthesis of indenamines. This process features good regioselectivity for both substrates, high efficiency, broad substrate scope, and excellent functional group tolerance.

An efficient synthesis of disubstituted acrylic acids has been realized via Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of (hetero)arenes and coupling with four-membered methyleneoxetanones under redox-neutral conditions. In most cases, the reactions are silver-free, and the products are exclusively E-selective with a broad substrate scope. The transformation proceeds via ortho C–H activation followed by selective olefin insertion and β-oxygen elimination.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed mild benzylic α-fluoroalkenylation of 8-methylquinolines with gem-difluorostyrenes has been developed. This reaction occurred via C–H activation and C–F cleavage and is applicable to a wide range of substrates, leading to the synthesis of Z-alkenyl fluorides under mild and redox-neutral conditions with high regio- and stereoselectivity.

Direct and efficient synthesis of 1-naphthols has been realized via Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of sulfoxonium ylides and subsequent annulation with alkynes, where the sulfoxonium ylide functioned as a new traceless bifunctional directing group. This reaction occurred under redox-neutral conditions with a broad substrate scope.

Rhodium(III)- and cobalt(III)-catalyzed C-H activation of indoles and coupling with 1,6-enynes is discussed. Under rhodium(III) catalysis, the alkyne insertion follows 2,1-regioselectivity with a subsequent type-I intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction (IMDA) to afford [6,5]-fused cycles. When catalyzed by the cobalt(III) congener, 1,2-insertion of the alkyne is preferred, and followed by a rare type-II IMDA, thus leading to bridged [3,3,1]-cycles. This selectivity of the alkyne insertion was mainly tuned by the steric sensitivity of the catalyst.

A Rh(III)-catalyzed addition of benzylic C(sp

A cobalt(III)-catalyzed α-fluoroalkenylation of different arenes with readily available gem-difluorostyrenes has been realized under mild and redox-neutral conditions. This reaction occurs via a C–H activation pathway and offers a step-economical access to various 1,2-diaryl-substituted monofluoroalkenes in excellent Z selectivity in moderate to excellent yields.

Quinazoline N-oxides have been prepared from simple ketoximes and 1,4,2-dioxazol-5-ones via Rh(III)-catalyzed C–H activation–amidation of the ketoximes and subsequent Zn(II)-catalyzed cyclization. The substrate scope and functional group compatibility were examined. The reaction features relay catalysis by Rh(III) and Zn(II).

Co(III)-catalyzed mild C–C couplings of arenes with strained rings such as 7-oxabenzonorbornadienes and 2-vinyloxirane have been realized. The transformation is proposed to undergo ortho C–H activation, olefin insertion, and subsequent β-oxygen elimination. A broad range of synthetically useful functional groups are compatible, thus providing a new entry to access diversely 2-functionalized indoles.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of heteroarenes and functionalization with bifunctional substrates such as anthranils allows facile construction of quinoline-fused heterocycles under redox-neutral conditions. The couplings feature broad substrate scope and provide step-economical access to two classes of quinoline-fused condensed heterocycles.

Cobalt(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of simple benzoate esters has been achieved, and redox-neutral annulative coupling with internal alkynes allowed efficient synthesis of indenones. The employment of the weak and simple ester directing group makes it an attractive protocol in carbocycle synthesis.

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed regioselective alkylation of (hetero)arenes using cyclopropanols as a reactive and efficient coupling partner under oxidative conditions has been developed. This coupling occurred at room temperature via C–H activation of arenes and C–C cleavage of cyclopropanols. Various types of (hetero)arenes (indolines, carbazole, tetrahydrocarbazole, pyrrole, thiophene, etc.) were all successfully reacted under the present conditions. This protocol provides the facile and efficient construction of C7-alkylated indoline scaffolds.

Rhodium(III)-catalyzed C–H activation of heteroarenes and functionalization with bifunctional substrates such as anthranils allows facile construction of quinoline-fused heterocycles under redox-neutral conditions. The couplings feature broad substrate scope and provide step-economical access to two classes of quinoline-fused condensed heterocycles.

Mild and efficient synthesis of benzophenones via Ir(iii)- and Rh(iii)-catalyzed, directing group-assisted formyl C–H arylation of benzaldehydes has been achieved using diaryliodonium salts, in which Rh(iii) and Ir(iii) catalysts exhibited a complementary substrate scope.

The rhodium(III)-catalyzed regioselective alkylation of (hetero)arenes using cyclopropanols as a reactive and efficient coupling partner under oxidative conditions has been developed. This coupling occurred at room temperature via C–H activation of arenes and C–C cleavage of cyclopropanols. Various types of (hetero)arenes (indolines, carbazole, tetrahydrocarbazole, pyrrole, thiophene, etc.) were all successfully reacted under the present conditions. This protocol provides the facile and efficient construction of C7-alkylated indoline scaffolds.

Based on statistical data about Sand and Dust Storms (SDS) and their associated dustfall, features of temporal and spatialdistribution were studied first in this article. SDS and associateddustfalls occurred most often in northern China, especiallynorthwestern China. However, in the last two years, they have atendency to occur on the central and western parts of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. As a result, Beijing is now among the impact areas, and the Chinese government is paying greaterattention to the matter. The changing trends of SDS and associated dustfalls were subsequently analyzed. Occurrences were seen to be decreasing with the feature of fluctuation duringthe period of 1954–2001, but they have slightly increased since 2000. Also, climate factors related to SDS and associated dustfalls were discussed. Finally, it was recommended that methods to predict SDS in China be further studied in the future.